The cases below are a compilation of cases from the Virginia Supreme Court summarized by Brien Roche dealing with the topic of defamation credit reports and the related topic of intentional torts.For more information about defamation see the pages on Wikipedia.
Defamation Credit Reports-Cases
1972 Shupe v. Rose’s Stores, Inc., 213 Va. 374, 192 S.E.2d 766.
Common-law rules of slander to be applied to all actions for libel and insulting words under statute. Notice that husband would not be responsible for wife’s debts posted in department store check-out counter is not actionable per se and there were no allegations of special damage. Not error to strike plaintiff’s evidence.
1959 Weaver v. Beneficial Fin. Co., 200 Va. 572, 106 S.E.2d 620.
Letter by creditor to employer of alleged debtor that employee is in default on payments, which does not suggest dishonesty, insolvency, or bankruptcy nor allege that debtor is in occupation where credit is necessary is not libelous per se.
